To Pat Shepherd: ‘A Gifted Artist'

Tom OrrRidge Lines

Published: Sunday, July 28, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, July 26, 2013 at 9:33 a.m.

I remember once when I was rehearsing a class of seniors for the spring musical. Pat Shepherd, the brilliant choreographer and teacher of dance, brought her young son, Mark, to rehearsal. He must have been about 5 years old at the time.

She allowed him to sit in the balcony and watch as she and I "pulled and pushed" to bring out a performance from that group of seniors who, just weeks away from their graduation, were understandably distracted.

Frustrated, I finally spewed out my anger and told them again what it was I wanted them to achieve on stage — "You are not listening to me," I shouted. "Try it again." They did. Suddenly, from way up in the balcony, came a small voice.

"Mr. Orr, Mr. Orr, they're not doing what you said."

I turned and spoke to the small voice in the darkness. "Thank you, Mark. At least one person is listening."

I thought of that moment today while sharing remembrances with Pat.

Pat informs me that this ("Sunbonnet and Straw Hat") is our 25th collaboration. What a fun experience each collaboration has been!

Pat Shepherd, each year, elevates her performance and the performances of others. She is at the top of her game.

Having worked with Pat often, I find that we are still able to play off each other's ideas and creative energy. We can interrupt and disagree and move on without missing a beat. It comes when two people share mutual respect and commitment. It has developed from years of working together.

Pat excels on a level much higher than most. She is truly a gifted artist. What makes Pat Shepherd so special to me, aside from her talent, is her loyalty and her willingness to share her time, energy and talent with this community we call home.

Tonight she showed me the long list of groups and individuals she has lined up for the Apple Festival. She and husband Johnny Shepherd, year after year, put it all together.

I remember Pat's mother, Hilda Kaltenbach. The Kaltenbachs lived on Third Avenue West. So did I — during my school-age years. Hilda married Marshall Honeycutt who, like my father, loved sports. Marshall was a fun person to be around. He had opinions, and he was not afraid to express them. He loved his two daughters.

I remember first hearing about Pat when pictures of Pat and sister Sandra would appear in the Times-News. Both were dancers at Fletcher's School of Dance.

Before opening her own dance studio on North Main Street, Pat operated out of a house on Sixth Avenue. It was there, a block away from HHS, that I would bring my students for dance training. The first play was "Guys and Dolls." The year was 1978.

There have been many memorable moments.

There are still those who can remember Spats and his gang from the musical "Sugar" (1980). The group of star athletes, led by Toby Gilreath, would shuffle-step onto the stage each time they made an appearance. The audience would applaud.

"Sugar," the stage musical, developed from the Marilyn Monroe film hit "Some Like It Hot." The story, set in the 1920s, is based on the Chicago Valentine Massacre witnessed by two male musicians who, to cover their identity, dress up like ladies and join an all–ladies band. It's good fun.

It was acted to perfection by Don Munson and Harold Alston. But what remains memorable, years later, is Spats and his dancing gang.

I recall the wine bottle dance from "Fiddler on the Roof," the Charleston in "The Boy Friend" and many other dance achievements.

I wanted my students to be exposed to the best, and I found the best in Pat Shepherd. At one time, I was actually made an honorary member of Pat's School of Dance.

Today, Pat and daughter Sher teach dance all over the country. They are highly sought after for clinics, and most recently their dancers won recognition at Dance Educators conventions in Charleston, S.C., and Las Vegas.

Pat is married to Johnny Shepherd. Johnny can trace his ancestry to Henderson County's earliest pioneer families. It was his grandfather M.M. Shepherd who operated the first store in Hendersonville (later known as Drake's Store), on the corner of First Avenue East and Main.

Today the Ripley-Shepherd building stands in the block on Main Street between Second and Third avenues. This building has been restored, and The Shepherd family has received state recognition for their restoration efforts.

I remain indebted to Pat Shepherd who has, over the years, joined me in playmaking.

<p>I remember once when I was rehearsing a class of seniors for the spring musical. Pat Shepherd, the brilliant choreographer and teacher of dance, brought her young son, Mark, to rehearsal. He must have been about 5 years old at the time. </p><p>She allowed him to sit in the balcony and watch as she and I "pulled and pushed" to bring out a performance from that group of seniors who, just weeks away from their graduation, were understandably distracted. </p><p>Frustrated, I finally spewed out my anger and told them again what it was I wanted them to achieve on stage — "You are not listening to me," I shouted. "Try it again." They did. Suddenly, from way up in the balcony, came a small voice. </p><p>"Mr. Orr, Mr. Orr, they're not doing what you said." </p><p>I turned and spoke to the small voice in the darkness. "Thank you, Mark. At least one person is listening."</p><p>I thought of that moment today while sharing remembrances with Pat. </p><p>Pat informs me that this ("Sunbonnet and Straw Hat") is our 25th collaboration. What a fun experience each collaboration has been! </p><p>Pat Shepherd, each year, elevates her performance and the performances of others. She is at the top of her game. </p><p>Having worked with Pat often, I find that we are still able to play off each other's ideas and creative energy. We can interrupt and disagree and move on without missing a beat. It comes when two people share mutual respect and commitment. It has developed from years of working together.</p><p>Pat excels on a level much higher than most. She is truly a gifted artist. What makes Pat Shepherd so special to me, aside from her talent, is her loyalty and her willingness to share her time, energy and talent with this community we call home. </p><p>Tonight she showed me the long list of groups and individuals she has lined up for the Apple Festival. She and husband Johnny Shepherd, year after year, put it all together. </p><p>I remember Pat's mother, Hilda Kaltenbach. The Kaltenbachs lived on Third Avenue West. So did I — during my school-age years. Hilda married Marshall Honeycutt who, like my father, loved sports. Marshall was a fun person to be around. He had opinions, and he was not afraid to express them. He loved his two daughters. </p><p>I remember first hearing about Pat when pictures of Pat and sister Sandra would appear in the Times-News. Both were dancers at Fletcher's School of Dance. </p><p>Before opening her own dance studio on North Main Street, Pat operated out of a house on Sixth Avenue. It was there, a block away from HHS, that I would bring my students for dance training. The first play was "Guys and Dolls." The year was 1978. </p><p>There have been many memorable moments. </p><p>There are still those who can remember Spats and his gang from the musical "Sugar" (1980). The group of star athletes, led by Toby Gilreath, would shuffle-step onto the stage each time they made an appearance. The audience would applaud. </p><p>"Sugar," the stage musical, developed from the Marilyn Monroe film hit "Some Like It Hot." The story, set in the 1920s, is based on the Chicago Valentine Massacre witnessed by two male musicians who, to cover their identity, dress up like ladies and join an all–ladies band. It's good fun. </p><p>It was acted to perfection by Don Munson and Harold Alston. But what remains memorable, years later, is Spats and his dancing gang.</p><p>I recall the wine bottle dance from "Fiddler on the Roof," the Charleston in "The Boy Friend" and many other dance achievements. </p><p>I wanted my students to be exposed to the best, and I found the best in Pat Shepherd. At one time, I was actually made an honorary member of Pat's School of Dance. </p><p>Today, Pat and daughter Sher teach dance all over the country. They are highly sought after for clinics, and most recently their dancers won recognition at Dance Educators conventions in Charleston, S.C., and Las Vegas.</p><p>Pat is married to Johnny Shepherd. Johnny can trace his ancestry to Henderson County's earliest pioneer families. It was his grandfather M.M. Shepherd who operated the first store in Hendersonville (later known as Drake's Store), on the corner of First Avenue East and Main. </p><p>Today the Ripley-Shepherd building stands in the block on Main Street between Second and Third avenues. This building has been restored, and The Shepherd family has received state recognition for their restoration efforts.</p><p>I remain indebted to Pat Shepherd who has, over the years, joined me in playmaking.</p>